Possibly switching from pediatrician to family dr

Our ped is 50 miles away and we love her!! But it's so hard to take a half day off work to get an ear rechecked or just to be told its a virus that will go away. So there is a great family dr in town I would like her to see but I have concerns. 1) I feel like I'm breaking up with my ped!! I feel guilty! They have seen her since she was 2 days old. 2) can you bug family drs nurses like I do my peds? They give the best advice and ideas to use before actually having to bring them in to be seen. 3) I'm mostly worried about the nurses. They deal with patients of all ages all day. They don't just do babies all day everyday. So will they know all the baby tricks and how to be gentle with shots and taking blood from baby veins? (I know they know how to but it worries me when it's not something they do consistently). 4) will I want my next baby as a new newborn going there and not a ped?

I'm stuck. I really think this new dr will be wonderful but worried about the care of the rest of the staff. We live in a small town and healthcare doesn't always seem the best. What are your thoughts if you've had both or go to a family dr?

Comments (13)

My vote would be 100% against switching. Family doctors are not properly trained to give specific care to children. Also, another thing to think about is that if your child suddenly has a serious health issue, you will need a pediatrician that you have a good relationship with and are already an established patient of. I speak from experience, unfortunately. So, please reconsider.

My LO has seen a family doctor from the beginning. I feel like most nurses try to be as gentle as possible when giving a baby shots and stuff so I don't get what you really mean about baby tricks. Ultimately it's your decision and you need to do what feels best however you shouldn't feel guilty if you do switch 50 miles is a lot to drive and I'm sure your ped would understand that.

I really think it just depends on the doctor, nurse, and clinic. I am sure peds probably know more about LOs since that is their main focus, where as family doctors have to try to fit all age information in their heads lol We have one ped in our town, she is very new. I tried her once and didn't like that she was awkward with LO and told me diaper rash is normal it will go away. (Without looking at the rash!!)

I have seen our family doctor since I was born and decided to take LO to him because he is great with all ages as far as I have seen! Him and his nurse are both very gentle with LO!! theyre amazing!!! our local office takes a while to get through to the nurses no matter what doctor it's for, so I think that just depends on the clinic and how busy they are. But all my questions have always been answered within a few hours.

Where we live (Ontario) our only choice is a family doctor. We love ours I saw him through my whole pregnancy too! Kids only see a ped for more severe issues here and they need a referral to see the ped.

It really depends on the clinic and doctors. My kids used to see a family practice doctor.

As far as the nurse - the FP dr we saw was in the same office as a peds, and the nurses were all shared so they were just as used to seeing kids as adults. There was actualy a peds, 2 FP and a geriatrics in the same office.

As far as the dr - we loved her and trusted her. She was a mom herself with kids older and younger than my boys...and they actually went to the same daycare as my boys.

Honestly - drive or no drive, having a doctor you trust and trusts you is the biggest thing.

LO went to a ped for a month. After that we had issues with insurance. around the same time LO also started having colic issues along with reflux. I was wiling to pay out of pocket for a visit to help my miserable baby. That's when it took over 24 hours and numerous messages left til we got a call back. Of course by this time I had already called my family doctor and got her seen immediately.

I can't help much, but I do have to say I'm incredibly jealous of your Pediatrician! She sounds wonderful! I really, really don't like mine. She's not helpful, the nurses are most certainly not helpful, and every time I go in feels like wasted money. I don't even really trust her medical opinion. But she's still the best pediatrician around... unless i were to drive 50 miles.... but I just don't feel like that would work for us. I have been considering just changing to the family doctor. I hate his office-- nurses don't call back, and appointments are hard to get... but the doctor himself is an absolute gem, and he's been invaluable in figuring out my personal health issues.

Both of my boys have always seen a family dr but I got luck when I was preggo with ODS he was my ob and even delivered him. I was really sad when I got preggo with LO and found out he wasn't doing that anymore and was just doing family and pedi. The nurses are great I just don't care for the other drs that are there.